View Full Version : Arcade auction follow-up
Several weeks ago, I posted a blurb about Playland closing in State College PA, and 100+ machines to be auctioned off. Well, the deed is done, Playland is dead. Here's the article from the Centre Daily Times:
http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/7489333.htm
It seems most machines went for over $1000. I stopped by Saturday morning before 9, and was stunned by the size of the crowd. The line to register reached down the block. Inside? I was able to squeeze my way through from the alley entrance to the street entrance once. After that, it was elbow-to-elbow and impossible to move. All the games were free to play... the coin boxes had been opened up. I played Galaga one last time, then headed out of town.
And now, State College... home to Penn State & 40,000+ students... is arcadeless.
Jeff D
goatdan
12-15-2003, 02:14 AM
It seems most machines went for over $1000. I stopped by Saturday morning before 9, and was stunned by the size of the crowd. The line to register reached down the block. Inside? I was able to squeeze my way through from the alley entrance to the street entrance once. After that, it was elbow-to-elbow and impossible to move. All the games were free to play... the coin boxes had been opened up. I played Galaga one last time, then headed out of town.
Wow, that's interesting...
The prices seemed pretty good though. According to the article, the highest price machine sold was Medieval Madness at $4400.00. If the game was in good condition, that's a great price and about $600-$1000 less than it usually sells for!
I wish I had more money / space for more games on Wednesday when the next arcade auction rolls through town...
Videogamerdaryll
12-15-2003, 04:29 AM
Several weeks ago, I posted a blurb about Playland closing in State College PA, and 100+ machines to be auctioned off. Well, the deed is done, Playland is dead. Here's the article from the Centre Daily Times:
http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/7489333.htm
It seems most machines went for over $1000. I stopped by Saturday morning before 9, and was stunned by the size of the crowd. The line to register reached down the block. Inside? I was able to squeeze my way through from the alley entrance to the street entrance once. After that, it was elbow-to-elbow and impossible to move. All the games were free to play... the coin boxes had been opened up. I played Galaga one last time, then headed out of town.
And now, State College... home to Penn State & 40,000+ students... is arcadeless.
Jeff D
Damn that's Saddening :(
Flack
12-15-2003, 10:23 AM
The worst auctions are ones like that, with actual sentimental value. EVERYBODY comes out of the woodwork and wants a piece of memory, which means they'll be willing to pay a bit more, which is bad if you're looking for a deal.
The last auction around here was when Lion's Fun Park closed down. Just like that auction, people came out in droves, machines went WAY too high, and I went home empty handed after watching a Ms. Pac-Man machine in really poor condition go for $1200.
This is a tough time of year to buy machines, I've learned. Spring and summer auctions seem to yield lower prices.
maxlords
12-15-2003, 10:58 AM
Yeah, I hate "sales" like that. Most arcade games are worth WELL under $1000. A MINT Ms. Pac, and I mean like NEW, is worth MAYBE $1200. The average classic cab is worth about $200, and if it's something like Tron/Pac/DK, you're looking at $500-700 in good shape, $1000ish for mint. People just don't know that though. They think "Arcade game = thousands of dollars". It's just ingrained in people's heads. Personally, I wouldn't pay more than $50-100 tops for a rough shape cab, working or not.
Most older pins are the same way. I bought a MINT reconditioned Spy Hunter pinball for $500 a few years ago. Most pins go for $1000 on the average, and the REALLY popular ones (Addams Family, Twilight Zone, Star Wars Ep. 1, Medieval Madness, etc) start at around $2000 and go to $4000+ last I looked. But personally, I wouldn't pay any more than 2K for a Twilight Zone, and that's THE pin I want (assuming I had the money, which I currently don't).
leonk
12-15-2003, 12:42 PM
Hey Jeff,
as a side question. did you sell your NWC cart hopping to funnel the funds into a nice Arcade machine instead?? :D
Nah, the NWC & arcade auctions were unrelated.
AB Positive
12-15-2003, 05:25 PM
How do you find out about these auctions. I'd like to take a shot at one for a 4-slot if there's one in my area but I have no clue how to search these things out.
-AG
Campus Casino closed several years ago. I work with a woman who was co-owner at one time, and she said business really started to decline in 1991. I'm not sure what's there right now... maybe a clothing store. The Roy Rogers that was next door has undergone many transformations too.
I read about the Playland auction last Summer in the newspaper, and more recently in a classifieds tabloid.
Jeff D